Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) 2017, 2018, 2019

[Ronan Kelly]

Valley fever killed nine, infected more than 2,900 in Kern County in 2017
BY HAROLD PIERCE hpierce@bakersfield.com 9 hrs ago 0

Valley fever, an insidious respiratory disease endemic to the region, killed nine people and infected 2,929 in Kern County in 2017, making it the second worst year for the disease since the county began recording cases in 1992, local public health officials announced Monday.

Public Health officials said they could not release the ages or areas of residence for those who died, citing patient privacy laws.

The announcement of preliminary numbers marks the third straight year that cases have increased in Kern and statewide. Infections in Kern County generally make up about 30 percent of the state?s total cases. Kern County Public Health Services Department officials recorded 2,310 confirmed cases and six deaths in 2016, and 1,174 cases and nine deaths in 2015.
...

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/valley-fever-killed-nine-infected-more-than-in-kern-county/article_aba26d28-3c14-11e8-8d61-eb14cfcc27a6.html

[Ronan Kelly]

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CocciinCAProvisionalMonthlyReport.pdf

2,517 cases reported in Arizona YTD.

http://www.azdhs.gov/documents/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/disease-data-statistics-reports/data-statistics-archive/2018/weekly.pdf

Volume 18, Number 11?November 2012
CME ACTIVITY - Research
Coccidioidomycosis-associated Deaths, United States, 1990?2008

Jennifer Y. Huang1, Benjamin Bristow, Shira Shafir, and Frank SorvilloComments to Author
Author affiliations: Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA (J.Y. Huang); and University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles (B. Bristow, S. Shafir, F. Sorvillo)
...
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is endemic to the Americas; however, data on deaths caused by this disease are limited. To determine the rate of coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths in the United States, we examined multiple cause?coded death records for 1990?2008 for demographics, secular trends, and geographic distribution. Deaths were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th Revision, codes, and mortality rates were calculated. Associations of deaths among persons with selected concurrent conditions were examined and compared with deaths among a control group who did not have coccidioidomycosis. During the 18-year period, 3,089 coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths occurred among US residents. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate was 0.59 per 1 million person-years; 55,264 potential life-years were lost. Those at highest risk for death were men, persons >65 years, Hispanics, Native Americans, and residents of California or Arizona. Common concurrent conditions were HIV and other immunosuppressive conditions. The number of deaths from coccidioidomycosis might be greater than currently appreciated.
...

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/11/12-0752_article

[Ronan Kelly]

Doctors? lack of awareness of Valley Fever puts many sufferers at risk

BUSINESS NEWS | 15 hours ago | CRONKITE NEWS
Doctors can misdiagnose Valley fever, a fungal disease that lurks behind such common symptoms as coughs, headaches and fatigue, because they?re not familiar with the respiratory disease, medical experts say. That could prolong patient suffering and even result in death.

Misdiagnosis not only hinders recovery, it can worsen Valley fever, said John Galgiani, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence in Tucson. He?s scheduled to speak about the dangers of the fungal disease Sunday at the Association of Health Care Journalists conference in Phoenix.

?One of the reasons clinicians are not as familiar with this as they should be is because they don?t train here,? Galgiani said, noting that Valley fever ? also known as coccidioidomycosis ? is regional.
...

https://azbigmedia.com/doctors-lack-of-awareness-of-valley-fever-puts-many-sufferers-at-risk/

[Ronan Kelly]

Valley Fever bills pass the Assembly
by BakersfieldNow StaffThursday, April 19th 2018
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) ? Two bills looking to streamline and standardize the reporting process of Valley Fever passed the Assembly unanimously today.


The two bills, AB 1787 and 1788, authored by assembly member Rudy Salas (D- Bakersfield), is said to also allow for greater efficiency and accuracy in confirming and collecting Valley Fever cases.

The two bills are part of assembly member Salas? Valley Fever legislative package, which includes bills that would improve worker safety (AB 1789) and enhance physician training (AB 1790), and a budget proposal requesting $7 million in funding for Valley Fever research and outreach.
...

http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/valley-fever-bills-pass-the-assembly

[Ronan Kelly]

California Department of Public Health - Infectious Diseaes Branch - Surveillance and Statistics Section California Department of Public Health - Infectious Diseaes Branch - Surveillance and Statistics Section
Cumulative Reported Suspect, Probable, and Confirmed Cases of Coccidioidomycosis in January through June by Cumulative Reported Suspect, Probable, and Confirmed Cases of Coccidioidomycosis in January through June by
Local Health Jurisdiction and Year of Estimated Onset, California, 2016-2018 Local Health Jurisdiction and Year of Estimated Onset, California, 2016-2018
(reported as of June 30 of each year*) (reported as of June 30 of each year*)

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CocciinCAProvisionalMonthlyReport.pdf

Arizona

CONFIRMED & PROBABLE CASES 2018 YEAR-TO-DATE* (selected morbidities) * All data are provisional * Based on date reported to public health


Includes cases reported 12/31/2017 through Saturday before 7/9/2018

https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/disease-data-statistics-reports/data-statistics-archive/2018/weekly.pdf

Nationally 7,237 cases through Week 27.

https://wonder.cdc.gov/nndss/static/2018/27/2018-27-table2C-H.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

Valley Fever kills 6 in SLO County in 2018
August 28, 2018
Even though California recorded the highest ever number of cases of Valley Fever last year, cases of the disease are spiking this year, particularly in San Luis Obispo County. [Cal Coast Times]

Over the first six months of 2018, six people in SLO County died of Valley Fever. A total of six people died of the disease over all of 2017.

There were 283 cases of Valley Fever reported locally over the first six months of this year in SLO County. Over the first six months of 2017, there were just 91 cases reported in SLO County.
...
https://calcoastnews.com/2018/08/val...ounty-in-2018/

Arizona

https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/prep...018/weekly.pdf

Coccidioidomycosis in California
Provisional Monthly Report
January - July 2018
(as of July 31, 2018)

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID...thlyReport.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

...

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CocciinCAProvisionalMonthlyReport.pdf

California Health: Kern Medical Center pushing Valley Fever Awareness in August
Posted: 7:16 AM, Aug 06, 2019 Updated: 10:16 AM, Aug 06, 2019
By: Scott Sheahen
...
Here in Kern County in the last 10 years the Valley Fever Institute stated about 150 people have died from Valley Fever. And most of the diagnoses of Valley Fever happens between August through December . Dr. Johnson said while there?s no easy way to protect yourself from valley fever, he thinks one profession is more at risk than others.

?Oilfield workers work on oil wells that are basically in the middle of undisturbed soil," said Dr. Johnson. "And that?s where [coccidioides] lives.
...

https://www.turnto23.com/working-for-your-health/california-health/california-health-kern-medical-center-pushing-valley-fever-awareness-in-august?fbclid=IwAR0lPE5Imt3JU4S-iYw5YpIWxl74HrNhmHLaeh45hRu92-d0lFYVkWijOLo

Arizona
CONFIRMED & PROBABLE CASES 2019 YEAR-TO-DATE* (selected morbidities)
* All data are provisional
* Based on date reported to public health
https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/prep...019/weekly.pdf


National Notifiable Infectious Diseases: Weekly Tables
TABLE 1h. Weekly cases* of notifiable diseases, United States, U.S. territories, and Non-U.S. Residents weeks ending July 27,
2019 (week 30)
(Accessible Version: https://wonder.cdc.gov//nndss/static...0-table1h.html)


...

https://wonder.cdc.gov/nndss/static/2019/30/2019-30-table1h-H.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

Bakersfield detective dies from valley fever, union says
NEWS
by: KGET

Posted: Aug 27, 2019 / 01:25 PM PDT / Updated: Aug 27, 2019 / 01:25 PM PDT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) ? A Bakersfield police detective died Sunday of complications from valley fever, according to Kern Law Enforcement Association.
...
According to Kern County Public Health officials, there were 2,937 valley fever cases in 2018. That?s a 7 percent increase from the previous year and the highest amount of cases since 1992.
...

https://www.kron4.com/news/bakersfield-detective-dies-from-valley-fever-union-says/

California Department of Public Health - Infectious Diseases Branch - Surveillance and Statistics Section
Cumulative Reported Suspect, Probable, and Confirmed Cases of Coccidioidomycosis in January through July by
Local Health Jurisdiction and Year of Estimated Onset, California, 2017-2019
(reported as of July 31 of each year*)

...

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CocciinCAProvisionalMonthlyReport.pdf

Arizona

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/index.php#data-stats

National
TABLE 1h. Weekly cases* of notifiable diseases, United States, U.S. Territories, and Non-U.S. Residents weeks ending August 17, 2019 (week 33)

https://wonder.cdc.gov/nndss/static/2019/33/2019-33-table1h.html

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/lo...ia/4311056002/

Valley fever rate stays high in Ventura County, sparks debate about fire, global warming
Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star Published 1:58 p.m. PT Nov. 27, 2019

Only six California counties reported more possible cases of valley fever than Ventura County through the first 10 months of the year, according to new state data.

Cases of the difficult-to-diagnose infection surged locally two years ago in a rise that sparks debate about possible causes ranging from massive wildfires to global warming.

Preliminary disease counts from the California Department of Public Health suggest the fungal infection that one patient described as "hell," has continued in the county at an elevated rate.

Breaking down the numbers

Through Oct. 31, 260 Ventura County residents were identified with confirmed or suspected cases of an infection caused by breathing icoccidioides fungus spores lifted from the soil into the air by wind, construction, farming or other activities.

Many people escape infection with few if any symptoms. Others develop severe pneumonia and sometimes nodules in their lungs. In rare cases, valley fever can spread to the brain and spinal cord, bringing potentially fatal conditions like meningitis.

Of 58 California counties, only Kern, Los Angeles, Fresno, Riverside, Tulare and San Diego reported more possible cases than Ventura. Kern was, as usual, the state's hotspot with 2,487 possible cases over 10 months...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news...nd/2668546001/

Valley fever cases climb in California’s Central Valley — and beyond
Barbara Feder Ostrov and Harriet Blair Rowan, Kaiser Health News Published 1:37 p.m. PT Dec. 16, 2019

Valley fever cases are on the rise in California and across the arid Southwest, and scientists point to climate change and population shifts as possible reasons.

California public health officials documented 7,768 reports of confirmed, suspected and probable new cases of the fungal disease as of Nov. 30, 2019, up 12% from 6,929 in the first 11 months of 2018.

The increase is part of a recent trend in the nation’s Southwest dating to 2014, with outbreaks most prevalent in California and Arizona. Nationally, public health officials reported 14,364 confirmed cases of valley fever in 2017, more than six times the number reported in 1998, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...